rodndtube.com's (OLD) MyPaipoBoards Forums. Reading but no posting on the OLD forums.

[Uncle Grumpy]

After watching the videos on Tom Wegener's website several times and talks with a couple shaper friends,
I have decided to build a real wooden Alaia.
I have ordered some Paulownia and have been in contact with Tom and his brother Jon who shapes for Hap Jacobs here stateside.
I'll post on the building and results.

[eef]

Go for it Uncle grumpy!

i just got the Alaia Story dvd in the mail from Mr. Wegener. Very Very inspiring!!!!

I build mine from scarp plywood, seems to work but it is a little hard to get a straight rocker

Eef
_________________
Increasing succes by lowering expectations

http://www.monsterboards.org

http://www.hugtheworld.net

[bgreen]

Eef,

Does the DVD have stuff not contained on the YouTube promos?

regards

Bob

[eef]

Yes loads of it! it's over half an hour long and has some hawaii stuff too! Go see it, it's great!

Eef
_________________
Increasing succes by lowering expectations

http://www.monsterboards.org

http://www.hugtheworld.net

[Uncle Grumpy]

EEF,
I didn't even notice the DVD on Tom's site.
I just ordered one.
Thanks for the heads up.
UG

[bgreen]

Eef,

One more question. Is it all paipo or stand-up alaia and some paipo. If the latter, how much paipo. Doe sit have any of the Mike Stewart stuff?

Bob

[eef]

Hello Bob,

it's only alaia (although some very short ones) and no paipo. Quite a bit of prone alaia riding!
The movie documents mostly the first year of Wegeners alaia journey, and sadly there's no Mike Stewart in there.

Great to watch anyway though!

greetings,

Eef
_________________
Increasing succes by lowering expectations

http://www.monsterboards.org

http://www.hugtheworld.net

[bgreen]

Eef,

Thanks. My understanding would be that if that if it is short and ridden prone, it would be a paipo. Here's what I


http://www.hawaiibc.com/surf.htm - this site describes paipo as "original bodyboard" 4-6 foot long, and an alaia as a "traditional shortboard" 6-8 foot long.

http://www.tomwegenersurfboards.com/old_site/Alaia.htm . "The Alaia was the most common board surfed by the Ancient Hawaiians. Their tombstone shape and their thinness characterize the 4 to 12 foot range". Tome then goes on to describe mid-length alaia as "mostly ridden prone", while
http://www.tomwegenersurfboards.com/old_site/stuff_to_know_page.htm
simply describes paipo as 3-5' and one of the range of "Ancient Hawaiian replicas".

A 1966 book by Finney & Houston which contains line drawings of boards from the Bishop Museum, depicts paipo two bodyboards under 5' and 2 alaia between 7-13'.

From your perspective, what is the difference between an alaia and a paipo?

Bob

[Uncle Grumpy]

My view is
Paipo = short and wide.
Alaia = long and skinny
But I'm just old Haole buggah, what I know?

[eef]

[bgreen]

Uncle G,

Only comment I would make is that the width of the Wegener paipo are pretty narrow - 17". I got mine wider on purpose. Generally, I think you are right - proportionally paipo are wide compared to their length. My impression is that the traditional paipo were just shorter, though out evidence is limited to the few existing boards.


Bob

[Uncle Grumpy]

I read somewhere recently that the term paipo did not exist until the 1920's ........?
BTW I should get the Alaia/Paipo finished this week and will post pictures then.........

[bgreen]

Uncle G,

You may be right about the recency of the term. Even with some research, I'm out f my depth. I think we'd need someone expert in Hawaiian.

Below are some dictionaries I consulted. Surf lingo may have never made it into such works. It struck me that paipo ma be a variation not of surfboard but being prone. I'd be interested to hear from someone who is knowledgeable in this area.

Bob


http://www.wehewehe.org/gsdl2.5/cgi-bin/hdict?a=q&r=1&hs=1&e=q-0hdict--00-0-0--010---4----den--0-000lpm--1en-Zz-1---Zz-1-home---00031-0000escapewin-00&q=alaia&j=pm&hdid=0&hdds=0

alaia
n. Small thin surfboard, as of breadfruit or koa wood, and heavier than the olo board. Also omo.

olo
3. n. Long surfboard, as of wiliwili wood. (Laie 449.)

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=bHdRhjL9Y9EC&pg=PR21&lpg=PR21&dq=%22Hawaiian+dictionary%22&source=web&ots=bvzb86LKT-&sig=PLj9lSipXbNieEDJbSDuWVsvveI&hl=en#PPA154,M1
kT.papa -prone position on a surfboard
kT.oe small surfboard


http://ulukau.org/elib/cgi-bin/library?a=p&p=frameset&p2=search&p3=word&r=1&e=q-0ped-000Sec--11en-50-20-frameset-search--1-010escapewin&t=0&q=surfboard&summarise=1
kī.'o'e - kipa.pani : Prone position on a surfboard; to assume such.
Pae-loa-hiki - pā.hema.hema : A kind of surfboard.
pā.paha.paha - papa kuhi.kuhi : Surfboard.


http://wehewehe.org/gsdl2.5/cgi-bin/hdict?a=q&r=1&hs=1&e=q-0hdict--00-0-0--010---4----den--0-000lpm--1en-Zz-1---Zz-1-home---00031-0000escapewin-00&q=surfboard&j=pm&hdid=0&hdds=0
Papa heʻe nalu. Of special kinds, the most common were olo (of wiliwili wood, as long as 5.5 m, for chiefs) and alaia (of koa or breadfruit wood). Other names: kīkoʻo, kīoe, omo, 'onini, 'ōwili, paha, pu'ua. To ride a surfboard, he'e nalu. Prone position on a surfboard, kīpapa.

[Nels]

It would make sense that over time the word paipo would apply to prone riding craft and another term would develop for standup boards...and back down based on the respective designs of the boards as various parameters are challenged. It is logical the first personal surfcraft were ridden prone. The logical next step would be to stand, and to do that effectively would require different equipment designs and eventually materials.

Too bad none of my maternal uncles are around anymore...the family lived on Oahu in the early 30's and some of the older boys and my mom surfed. One of them probably would ahve known if "paipo" was in use then.

[bgreen]

Nels,

I'm sure your relatives would have had some interesting tales. Its a shame so much oral history has been lost - future generations will have tons of it to wade through with the internet.

Perhaps I should ask on Sways. There may be someone in Hawaii with some thoughts on this.


Bob